Starting Chemo December 2015

Twirp I am sorry! Try not to worry (easier said than done). The waiting on tests and results is the worst part of the process. But they want to make sure they are doing the exact right thing for you. Hang in there!!!!

Gahh! Twirp! That sucks. Scanxiety is the worst! Just know its gonna be fine and take it easy. Best of luck

Fingers crossed Birdie!

Last Friday I was able to do my 3rd taxol. My MO came to the conclusion that I'm (or at least my bone marrow) sensitive to chemo. "What?!?! My body doesn't like poison?" Anyway, I just can't seem to get those WBC's back up after treatment. So, she lowered my dose and if that doesn't work we'll go to neupogen shots next. She made it seem like the shots were a real pain in the a$$. IDK. She also said the lower dose is just as effective as the higher dose. I, being the skeptic I am, wonder if its just as effective then why the high dose off the bat? I think she's trying to sugar coat it... she should know better than to do that with me by now. :-/ Otherwise, SE's: I find taxol (so far) sooo much better than AC. I feel 100x better on the inside, but look 100x worse on the outside. No more headaches, blurry eyes, or wicked bad fatigue. They've been replaced with missing 2/3 of my eyebrows and lashes and an overall ghostly sick appearance. Thank god for eyebrow pencils! I was still sporting a lame thin comb over from the AC "hair migration" but that has since gone down the drain (literally). My feet are sweating like crazy and the skin is peeling, but my face is dry and crusty. And finger nails are still weird. AND, from what I hear the real taxol side effects don't start till around treatment 6 or 7. So, yea. There's more to come. I'm over this.

My Ki67 was 17%. I only know this from reading my report. None of the dr's every talked to me about it. I think its informational, but not factual enough to do anything with. Like, they're not going to change your treatment over your Ki67 #. They should call it the Worry% because it seems pretty useless other than to freak us out.

Alcohol, oh alcohol, how I miss thee... Lately when I've been feeling better I've been finding myself wanting to get an old fashion drunk on. Not sipping on a glass of wine, but a "forget your troubles" kind of night. I had 3 beers on xmas eve, 1 on Valentines day, but those were strategically placed in my 2 wk AC treatments. I feel like these taxols are too close together. Thoughts? Beyond treatment, I'm not sure how I'm going to handle it with the whole alcohol and breast cancer connection. Once a month? IDK. I'm so bored these days.

Oh my gosh Twirp, I am so sorry about your day. That just really sucks and I will be saying extra prayers for you!

I worked from home today because there was no way I was going to be able to go on 4 hours of sleep. We still don't really know what has been causing all her pain but they are thinking UTI, they went ahead and put her on antibiotics, and the culture should be back tomorrow to confirm or not.

My husband had a stomach virus all weekend so I have been taking care of him too, feel like my whole family is falling apart.

Birdie, sorry to hear you had to skip yours too, I guess I should just be feeling lucky instead of complaining. You all are strong woman and will get through this!

Darnit twirp so sorry! Makes me super happy with my surgeons decision to move so quickly. I go for #5 T/C on Thursday I don't have any of the other stuff so I normally drink a glass or 2 or some bee after the 1st week.

MVspaulding I have a sick family too. It's so hard to work & take care of family too. But we do it cuz we have to. Stay strong ladies

PezGal....LOL! I haven't had a sip of alcohol since my diagnosis back in September. I got super paranoid and now with all of the meds and chemo, I think I would probably be sick. One of my favorite things to do was to check out one of the many new local breweries and sample their craft beer. I really miss that and I am not sure how I am going to handle that when this is over.

Akioli: Taxol is my only chemo. Like u, hair started to fall out in clumps between 5th and 6th Taxol. Shaved at that time. By the time I finished 12th, hair were very thin (not completely shinning bald but need to wear hat or wig).

Twirp26 - Hi. I'm so sorry to hear how your dr.'s visit. How soon do you get your follow up tests? I too am sending my love, support, positive energy & prayers to you. Please know we are here for you. Day by day we are getting closer to getting through this.. Even when it feels like a set back. (I know in the back of my mind I feel like I need to be somewhat prepared for my next scan to possibly change my option of lumpectomy. I have very dense breasts, so I can't tell whats going on with my tumor.)

Birdie56- My fingers are crossed for you to have a positive Echo result. I have tinnitus too sometimes and can only imagine how hard severe tinnitus is. Hope it resolves quickly.

mvspaulding- Hope you, your daughter & husband are feeling better soon. I read some article recently that some of the same E-coli bacteria that can give you food poisoning can also give you a bladder infection (from eating the food). Not sure how old your daugher is, but I've taken Urelle for bladder pain & it helps more than Pyrdium. Hope they are giving her something for the bladder pain before the antibiotics kick in.

PezGal- Scanxiety- Great word for what we'll be dealing for a long time- part of the new normal. Oh the crazy side effects we all deal with. I've had all that you listed in varying degrees.. its as though I'm not seeing myself in the mirror anymore. (still have eyebrows..not sure for how much longer). I so hear you on being over it.. I hope they start getting better soon.

Current SE :My nails & fingertips have been sore for weeks- red marks under my nails. Can't type for too long, can't even push pills through those foil packs. Herceptin cough, congestion and trouble breathing. Dry & sometimes bloody nose. Spots on head, rash on chest & Blotchy face. Weird mouth feel- extreme fatigue. & normal chemo digestive fun.- But I've certainly felt worse than today so I'm grateful that these all have been manageable. J I'm12 days out from last chemo so feeling human again..( maybe not looking it though!)

For anyone I've missed. I hope your SE are getting better!

Another day down!

Twirp, I'm so sorry to hear the chemo has not been helping! Know that I am praying for you.

Sorry Twirp for your set back. I wish you the best.

Popping in after TCHP today. It was #5 of 6 - woo hoo. I have already forced myself to go for a walk on this 30 degree day (sun was at least shining.

I am going to go to yoga tomorrow, then walk every day that I feel I possibly can. I just don't want a repeat of last months lows

Here is a pic of me from today. I don't think I have EVER posted a personal pic of me because I am so uber-self conscious that these boards are not private. But I wanted to share my cool leggings. I never wear leggings in public, but a friend of mine started selling LuLaRoe and she sent me these cool warrior leggings. I cannot tell you how many people commented on them - even my oncologist and other men! This is my usual go-to wig, but I have one more that has more style/wave to it.

thank you so much for your support. It really means a lot. Just taking it one day at a time. I keep looking at my boob and hoping I will see it shrink. I need to know it is working before I can calm my restless mind. Obviously no sign yet but it just now 24 hours past chemo.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Praying for all of us!!!

Twirp, I wanted to tell you how sad I am to hear your news, and let you know I understand how you must be feeling. I'm sending lots of ((((hugs)))) from Australia

Trish

xoxo

Twirp26 - I am sorry to hear about your setback with your first chemo regimen. We are all praying with you that the new regimen works. It's good that your surgeon will see you weekly to see if the treatment is working.

Thinking of you Twirp. Hugs.